The New Schiano had high hopes for Stocker last season. He put on a load of muscle in the offseason and worked through the summer regularly with Josh Freeman, but Stocker pulled a calf muscle while training for Greg Schiano’s renowned conditioning test — 16 100-yard sprints.

Stocker eventually recovered slowly but was lost quickly to injured reserve with a hip injury after playing in two games.

TE Luke Stocker (IR)

Stocker is undoubtedly the biggest enigma on this list. The Buccaneers picked Stocker in the fourth round in 2011, trading away an additional fourth-round pick in order to move up on the third day of the draft and make sure they didn’t miss the former Tennessee standout. Tampa Bay employed Kellen Winslow at the time but envisioned Stocker becoming the sort of two-way blocking/pass-catching tight end who could eventually supplant the veteran. The Bucs let Winslow go during the 2012 offseason, and Stocker has had two seasons to try to establish himself as the starter. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to stay healthy, and he missed all but two games this past season with a hip injury. Because that position is so unclear for the Buccaneers heading into 2014 – even if Tim Wright is the real deal, a team needs more than one competent tight end – Stocker can’t be ruled out. However, he’ll obviously have to prove he can stay healthy for an extended period of time.

Stocker, a 2011 fourth-round pick, is a hard-working type who’s smart enough to know this season likely is his last shot in the NFL. The guy seems to be always hurt or banged up, but he’s also one of those big-body dudes coaches often drool over. (He’s listed at 6-6, 253 pounds on Buccaneers.com but he was a chiseled 265 when he got hurt.)

There’s not a heck of a lot of recent film on Stocker, but he was on the field blocking for Doug Martin and catching 16 balls in 2012. Maybe Lovie Smith and friends will see enough promise to consider Stocker in the mix. But how could a new regime possibly count on Stocker?

we’ll keep him around for ever, though he’s shown absolutely ZILCH, in 3 years, including ability to play consecutive games,but Glennon,though he outplayed all rooking QB’s and actually played in 13 game, as a rook, well… he’s gotta go. I understand he deserves some criticism, but it’s turned personal, for some reason, IMO. What would you be saying if we drafted Geno Smith in the 1st round or Manuel?

yea long offseason, i thought there was enough news to go around to just say luke stocker sucks as a player…maybe he and bowers workout together in the offseason

Can we make up some better news….Hey JOE lets gets some news on Aaron rodgers little brother maybe talk about some dark horse players that could make an impact on the roster next year, some rashaad melvin’s for 2014

hopefully rodgers is gonna help his brother out with learning tedfords offensives scheme, dont know him so who knows if he has talent but then again we can say that about half of the bucs roster

Precisely, Dominick lauded Stocker as having a “second round grade”, thus explaining the future pick being traded…. The Eagles used our pick to trade for Demico Ryans straight up, SMH another guy that would have been good.

Just like the Freeman trade up by Dominick, that late round pick was used on Peyton Hillis

Luke Stocker??? Really? lol. Another one of Dominick’s hopes of finding a diamond in the rough that hasn’t panned out. The guy can’t stay healthy and when he does he is nonexistent. That’s like saying we should be counting in RB Micheal Smith to be a big time contributor next year… What evidence is there to assume such a thing? Why was that assumed with Crabtree. Dude caught 6 catches in his career before coming to the Bucs. Wright was a pleasant surprise at TE and that was by accident. lol. Man, I hope this new coaching regime puts together a roster full of depth instead of pipe dreams.

@Tampabaybucfan Says:
Which is worse….letting Blount go, or keeping Stocker?

Wow, Tbbf, you read my mind!

When I read that article on here today, it pissed me off. We needed a backup running back at the time. Blount got a 1,000 yards the previous season, and we gave him away bc Schiano doesn’t know how to deal with him. Such bs. I don’t care if you have “rings” or not, it is your job to maximize your personnel. If he is not in jail, punching cab drivers, planting rumors to implode your team, then you are supposed to MANAGE him.

Personally, I love the GMs that trade back and stockpile picks… those are usually the marks of good draft GMing. Because of the extra picks, there is an increased chance that one hits it big, as well as teams being able to take greater chances on boom or bust players because there is a large amount of incoming talent. The Pats have always been good at stockpiling picks, the Rams lately… that should be us. Stockpiling picks and loading the roster up with young talent instead of 1-2 premium guys and 1-2 long shots in drafts where many of the picks were traded away to teams that stockpiled the picks.

The good thing is that we will have an unbiased evaluation of all players…..Dominick picked this guy and would be reluctant to cut him thus admitting a mistake…..
Myron Lewis was another example……
Tandy was chosen by Schiano and may have recieved extra consideration because of it…..players like Means will have to win the job all over again.
If Stocker stays, it will be because Lovie/Tedford agree that he has value.

Wouldn’t be surprised if at least 1/3 of our roster isn’t cut and replaced before the season starts. The bottom half of our roster has got to be one of the worst in the NFL. We’ve had guys starting the last few years that are unrosterable for half of the league.

Adrian Clayborn DESERVES a Roster Spot. This kid? nah, not so much. He’s had plenty of opportunities to show the organization. That he can stay health, learn the play book(s), and be productive on and off the field.

1.) LACK OF PRODUCTIONS

-Outside of the fact that we traded two 4th round picks to Philadelphia to take him in the 2011 draft. The 3rd year- pro from Tennessee, has just 28 (catches),(257 yards), and (1 Touchdown) for his career.

2.) Can’t stay Healthy (Examples)

-9/24/13 – TE Luke Stocker was placed on injured reserve Monday with a hip injury. Stocker was inactive for Sunday’s loss to the Patriots, and did not catch a pass this season.

I agree with the article. Luke has been unproductive with limited playing time. I always felt he was cast aside, with Winslow and Dallas Clark being the main guys. It sucks he got hurt last season. It was his first chance to really prove himself. He will be around through the preseason. He’s signed through the year so we might as well see if he can be the guy we drafted him to be. If not cut him after the preseason and move on with Tim wright, Tom Crabtree, and any other TEs that lovie will eventually sign on.

I enjoyed your “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” pieces after our games and was thinking it might be fun if you did a sort of higher level recap version for this season, where we stand today, and the road ahead. Just a thought that I figured I’d share. Either way, still loving the site.

luke stocker is the perfect example of the pop star and how he kept losers he brought on board in order to not look bad…sooooo glad that fake is gone and all his machiavellian antics…sorry joe and whine dog looks like you have to work for your ” insider information”…good luck with that

americans love BIG regardless of how soft they truly are…if its big its shiny and you people cant look away…give me 10 danny woodheads over weak sauce big men any day of the week…NOPE this team needs meN

“Enigma”? Don’t you mean invisible?!
It’s unfortunate that he hasn’t worked out. This happens sometimes in the draft. Nobody is a sure thing.
On the other hand, one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity. Good job Tim Wright!